Source separation is a critical step in dealing with the increasing
problem of food waste in society prior to transporting the food
waste to various recycling facilities. In Hong Kong, most of the food
waste, particularly the food waste from domestic households, is
not sorted out from other types of MSW prior to discarding in
the three strategic landfills. Residents, nevertheless, are responsible
for separating the food waste from the other MSW produced
in their home. If the residents fail to sort the food waste at source,
the food waste will be contaminated and cannot then be recycled.
A complicated sorting process in households, however, can discourage
the residents from sorting their waste. A less behavioural
change of the public is needed for the collection and separation of
food waste. This is important to reduce any changes that might
affect the lifestyle of the public and minimise potential impacts
on the livelihoods of the public. In addition, the food waste collection
system should be reasonably practicable built based upon the
existing waste management system. By doing so, the public will
not be required to travel to a new place or change their daily routine
substantially for the sorting of food waste, and thus be more
willing to take part in separating food waste at source. As such, a
simple sorting process needing less behavioural change by residents
is a key part in order to motivate the residents to sort the
food waste from the other MSW. In order to achieve this objective,
food waste and other types of MSW can be efficiently separated via
an optic bag system.